I know most of you have heard the famous 1970s Cultural Hit anthem by James Brown, “Say it loud. I’m BLACK and I’m PROUD!” Well, I deemed it time to change this popular mantra and declare that I’m KAMITIC AND I’m PROUD! I decided to write this post in response to the misrepresentation some have due to the growing usage of the popular Kamitic term “Hetep” which means “Peace”. Understand it is not my intention to belittle anyone or group but to clearly distinguish from my perspective what is and who is Kamitic (Kemetic, Khemetic, etc.) versus individuals that are at present caught up in the moment, so that true seekers don’t get the wrong idea.

Egyptian Tattoos of former Piston Player Rasheed Wallace

First, being Kamitic is not a fad, something that is popular or the “in thing” right now. I mean it is great that people want to decorate their body, home, etc. with ancient Egyptian motifs and all but, this is not what being Kamitic is about.

Portuguese ship

To understand what Kamitic is and is not we have to understand how it all began. According to my research, when Central and West Africans were taken to the Americas. Each of these ethnic groups brought with them a fragment of their cultural spiritual traditions. Those taken to Cuba used their African cultural heritage combined with Amerindian and Spanish influence to create the rich Afro-Latino traditions known as Lucumi (Santeria), Palo Mayombe and Abacua; in Puerto Rico similar Afro-Latino influences were used to create Santisimo and Santeria; similar influences combined with the French gave rise of course to Vodun in Haiti and Las 21 Divisiones in Dominican Republic (Las 21 Divisiones/Los Misterios also known as Dominican Vudu); while developing in Trinidad and Tobago there was Shango Baptiste; and last but not least in Brazil, Candomble, Macuumba and Umbanda. (Not to mention the other Afro-traditions that exist throughout the Caribbean and South America). All of these powerful and beautiful Afro – spiritual traditions were birthed out of a Spirit of Resistance, but in North America due to the fact that the taskmasters were Protestant, the Africans were unable to create such a tradition. This however didn’t mean that they didn’t try. Instead, the first Africans that stepped on the North American shores (in Jamestown, VA) came from Kongo – Angolan region and they brought with them the infamous Kongo Cross.

The Kongo Cross also known as the Yowa and Dikenga

The Kongo Cross (also known as the Yowa and Dikenga), which was the spiritual and philosophical foundation of the Kongo culture, is what the first Africans in North America used to build their own spiritual tradition of resistance. That’s right, contrary to popular belief, early African Americans did not lose all of their culture – this is a myth. Our ancestors in North America like many other enslaved African descendants managed to preserve their very own African cosmology. What was lost was the philosophical and theological understanding of our culture. 400 years of slavery can’t erase or undo what has been practiced since Ancient Egypt.

Kongo Cross used to signal and provide for ventilation for those on the Underground Railroad.

Now through this sacred cosmogram early African Americans were able to preserve and create new traditions based upon their African heritage and new American experience, like an informal initiation system reflective of the sun’s movement and the famed ring shout.

African American Ring Shout. Notice the cross formation symbolizing the four moments of the sun and Four moments of Life.

Europeans observing the odd behavior and practices, which consisted of early African Americans envisioning their world from a different perspective than their oppressors, labelled it hoodoo and voodoo as a means of demonizing all African beliefs, practices, traditions and cultures. (It should be noted that hoodoo is believed to be derived from the Spanish term judio pronounced hoo-dee-oh meaning Jewish. It is theorized that the term was used first by the Spanish merchants to identify those Africans who refused to accept the European ethnocentric view of the world that everything wasn’t Christian was primitive and evil).

Contemporary Ring Shout

Anyway, this new perspective that early Africans in America held is what author Theophus H. Smith called a Conjuring Culture. This Conjuring Culture, which was birthed from the Kongo Cross became the philosophical base for the American Christian church that we see today. Most of the African aspects such as speaking – in – tongues, dancing (shouting), struck by the spirit, prophesizing, etc. – are all African elements that never existed in the Church prior to the genocide of the Amerindians and enslavement of Africans. All of these elements are now widely accepted in all charismatic churches throughout the world without any knowledge that it stems from African spirituality. This cultural appropriation exists because as Churchill said, “History is written by the victors”.

Azusa Street Revival – the birth of the Pentecostal Movement

Now the Conjuring Culture that was birthed from the Kongo Cross didn’t just create Christian fervor, which emerged and became the famed Azusa Street Revival. It also gave rise to two very powerful underground movements that exist today because of Psalms 68:31, which states:

In the minds of the Africans in Jamaica, the Kongo Cross gave rise to the black Zionism Movement, where Zion became the iconic figure of Ethiopia, which later became Rastafarianism. While during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, this verse gave rise to Ethiopianism. Here is where Ethiopia became the iconic figure of return symbolizing freedom. When Dr. Martin L. King Jr. began protesting and marching for civil rights. He was seen as a Black Moses where instead of the biblical Children of Israel being enslaved, it was the Children (Sons and Daughters) of Ethiopia who were enslaved and modern day United States was the biblical Egypt. This is why Martin L. King constantly compared the civil injustices in the United States with the plight of the biblical Hebrews in Egypt.

But, Egypt was also mentioned in this most widely quoted verse, and this inspired many like W.E.B. DuBois to refer to Egypt in the early 1900s, as an iconic figure for sociopolitical movement. Like the spiritual tradition Rastafarianism that was born out of the black Zionism movement (or Back-to-Africa Movement). Kamiticism was born out of the Ethiopianism movement, which was first widely popularized throughout the Afro-diaspora by Ra Un Nefer Amen, the founder of the Ausar Auset Society. Both Rastafarianism and Kamiticism are Afro-spiritual traditions born out of necessity and the spirit of resistance.

Unfortunately, although both Rastafarianism and Kamiticism have accomplished a lot throughout the Afro-Diaspora, they both suffer from similar misinterpretations, misrepresentations and misunderstandings.

Novelty Rasta Mon Kit sold online

For instance, just because you see an individual with dreadlocks, wearing red, black and green colors; smoking marijuana or wearing a Bob Marley shirt doesn’t mean they are a Rastafarian.

Rastafarianism as a movement consists of several branches, all with different beliefs. Above is a photo of one of my favorite poets, the famous Rastafarian dub poet, musician and actor Mutabaruka talking to my favorite television host Anthony Bourdain on the show No Reservation 2008 about Rastafarianism and the whole Ital-lifestyle.

Popular Kamitic figures and icons tattoos. Maat tattoo on the entertainer Rhianna.

The same can be said about those who are Kamitic. Just because someone wears an ankh or some other Kamitic glyph (or image) tattooed on their body doesn’t make them Kamitic. By the way, nor does wearing Kamitic jewelry, having Kamitic artwork (including images of Nefertiti, Tutankhamen, etc.), saying Kamitic words like “Hetep” or adopting a Kamitic name. While we are at it, learning Kamitic history and practicing a Kamitic inspired religion doesn’t make a person Kamitic either. It helps one to get a better understanding of what it means to be Kamitic but, sorry to step on peoples’ toes. It doesn’t make them Kamitic no more than an egyptologists (lower cased intentionally) translating hieroglyphs is ancient Egyptian, or practicing Taosim makes an individual Chinese, or Shinto makes a person Japanese. These are all forms like cloth weaved by a weaver. Just like clothes don’t make the man, doing these things don’t and will not make an individual more or less Kamitic either.

Because being Kamitic is more than wearing Egyptian jewelry, Kamitic clothing, a Kamitic name, speaking Kamitic, etc. As you have read above, it is not a movement that just started in the 1980s when Afro-centricity became widely popular and grew in the 1970s and 1980s. No. Kamitic is a cultural way of life and like any other cultural way it consists of an indescribable philosophical change. As a result, it could be said that there are several denominations or groups, and anyone who considers themselves Kamitic should be able to tell you how they made the transition. I can only share what happened to me and my experience.

This is because when an individual truly converts and becomes Kamitic. They are spiritually born again because an old part of them dies and another part is born. This moment is symbolized as the transition from Ra Atum (setting sun/death) to the Khepera (sunrise/birth) moment on the Maa Aankh. It is similar to receiving the Holy Ghost because it is truly a change in consciousness. This metamorphosis is called in the Kamitic language “Maa Kheru” pronounced “Maa-Xa-ru.” Maa Kheru literally means “One Who is True of Voice“. Meaning, in other words, you see Divine Truth (or it was revealed to you), so you speak and live it. When this Truth is revealed, it doesn’t have to be something dramatic like the biblical Paul being knocked off his ass (donkey). It is personal and it doesn’t matter if others witness it or not. It is simply revealed to you, thus establishing a rapport between you and the Divine within you.

Maa-The Path of the Feather

This is how you begin to discover your truth or maa. It also how you receive Divine Protection because Maa literally means Divine Truth, Divine Balance, and Righteousness and symbolizes the Way to the Divine (symbolized as the vertical yellow line on the Maa Aankh). What this means is that when you begin to connect with the Divine within you. The Spirit will reveal to you your own maa or personal truth to help you balance your life and live righteously. The Spirit will show you what works best for you and what doesn’t work for you, versus you following a bunch of dogmatic do’s and don’ts created for the masses. For instance, some people in this lifetime need to listen to their spirit and abstain from sweets because it is detrimental to their well being. This same restriction however would not apply to everyone and it doesn’t mean that sweets are bad or evil. It just means for this particular individual(s), they would have to avoid sweets because their spirit revealed to them to do so. Sweets for this individual(s) becomes a taboo for them or basically part of their maa (personal truth, personal balance, personal righteousness living or simply their personal way).

This means you become responsible for your own development. Thus you are now held accountable to the Divine, your aakhu (ancestors) and to the people. When you willingly violate the maa (your personal truth) that was revealed to you. You reap the consequences. Understand, this is not God or some other entity punishing you for breaking the Law, and by the way you are not going to be rewarded either. The maa is established to help you to work your own spirit. So when things work, you know what works for you. When things don’t work out, you know what doesn’t work for you, and you know what to do in order to initiate change. As you can see, when you become Kamitic you become aware of how the Divine Laws interact with you, instead of wondering around with no guide.

If you watch Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code starring Tom Hanks, you will see him run around the Vatican pointing at obelisks and calling them pagan. When he goes more in detail, he explains how the Church (the Vatican) placed Christian iconography on top of the obelisks in order to subdue those who followed the Egyptian way of thinking. (Note that followers of the ancient Greek religions were called Hellenes – Hellenic culture, gentile and paganos).

Obelisk in the Vatican

What was the Ancient Egyptian or Kamitic Way of Thinking?

The Da Vinci Code hit on it but it masked it with more conspiracy theories, which led people to go in search of a literal golden grail in France or somewhere in Europe. People missed the point and made this all about Jesus and some bloodline. No. It was all about the pagan way. It (and this) has nothing to do with Jesus per se, it was about Gnostic beliefs.

You see, Kamitic history reveals that the Kamitic people strongly believed that we are all made in the image of the Divine. That Men and Women are Divine polar opposites and counterparts or the manifestation of the Divine on earth. That Women have similar rights as Men because Men are the Causal, while Women are the Effectual. Said another way, Men are the Initiators of Divine Will, while women are the Manifestors or Makers of the Divine Will. I know it is nice and sounds sweet to call a man, “My King” and a woman, “My Queen” but in Kamit they were serious and history reveals that the men and women literally played the part. Men modeled themselves after the king who emulated the Sun, strong, constant, always shining, resilient, powerful, like that of a lion symbolized as Hru. As women modeled themselves after the queen, who emulated the moon, reflective of her king or the sun and would do anything to protect her family, village and nation as lioness like the netchar Oset (Aset, Auset Greek Isis).

Nyut (the personification of the mysterious and unknown realm symbolized as the female womb) and Geb (the personification of the materialization of what is known symbolized as the male)

Think about that for a moment. Imagine if men saw their woman as the personification of the cosmos and women saw their man as the materialization of potential. Would sex just be a mere act? I think not. Would a man disrespect his woman or just let anyone run all over his woman? Would a woman just disrespect and allow her man to continue to fight to be in a system designed against them both? I think not. Both would see each other as divine counterparts and would make their world (their kingdom and their reality) in their image. Every time they came together, they would be reminded that they were conceiving (physically and spiritually) an ancestor to enter into the physical realm because the aakhu (ancestors and spirit guides) were symbolized as stars in the night sky of the belly of Nyut (Nut). Do you see why “they” had to demonize us and our way of life? Yeah, it sounds romantic, but as you can see it is beyond that because it creates a natural nationalism that is against the machinations of the ego-self (Set or the devil) that are promoted throughout society today.

Ancient Kamitic Shaman/Priest

You see, there are only two emotions that exist in our universe and they are love and fear. The Kamitic way of thinking truly rivals Western thinking because it is based upon the Love of God. It is because of the Love of God we were made in the image of a Perfect Creator. Therefore, everything that exists in our life (both the good and the bad) was put there by divine design to help us to realize our divinity and accomplish our destiny. In other words, make us spiritually stronger. This is the reason when you truly have overcome a destructive habit you feel accomplished, free, relieved, empowered and victorious.

Western thinking however, is based upon the Fear of God, which is that we were made in the image of the Divine but fell due to sin. Consequently, we have to beg and plead eternally for forgiveness in order to be saved. We have to put ourselves in service of others or go to God through some clergy or we will be punished by a vengeful deity that made us flawed in the first place.

Charlton Heston as Moses in Cecil DeMille’s Ten Commandments

Basically Kamitic thinking is where we basically develop a relationship with God by discovering who the Divine is within us. Whereas Western thinking is where we are told who God is and ostracized or punished for not accepting the beliefs of spiritual tyrants. In other words, Western religious thinking focuses upon people become Children of God, whereas Kamitic spiritual thinking is focused on helping an individual become a Man or Woman of God.

So a true Kamitic is not about following a particular person or group but, his or her Divine’s Will and that is what made the Kamitic people of old dangerous. This is why the early Christian Church waged war against the Kamitic and Kushite (ancient Nubian) people. This was later followed by the Islamic jihadists, who drove the Kamitic people to the West of Africa and into the African interior. A true Kamitic descendant in these contemporary times (because that is what we are) is a free thinker that knows how to use all of the faculties of his and her mind (the superconscious/subconscious and conscious). No, we are not super humans and being Kamitic doesn’t mean we don’t have problems. We live in a physical world, which is dynamic and always changing, so we will always have problems because nothing stands still or is for certain. But, we know that the solution to our problems doesn’t rests in our own thinking.

It involves us learning how to access the deeper part of our mind (the superconscious part of our being or the Divine mind). This is the reason all of the Kamitic traditions have a spiritual system or cosmogram that they follow like the Kamitic Paut Neteru (the Kamitic Tree of Life) or the Maa Aankh (the Bantu – Kamitic Cross).

Let me give an example. There is an altercation that occurs and people are up in arms. One group wants strike out in anger. Another group wants to boycott or protest. Religious leaders and fraternal organizations convene and want to do something that show that they are on the peoples’ side but at the same time not want to jeopardize their standing with various parties. Activists of all types want to talk on the radio, podcasts, etc. and keep the energy high so that something is accomplished. These are all good and valiant efforts, which I am not knocking at all but have to be considered and well thought of. But let me tell you how a Kamitic man or woman handles the situation. They talk to the Divine like their ancestors did before them through either meditation or by consulting an oracle.

If you scoff at meditation or the use of an oracle, then you know nothing about being Kamitic. Because the whole basis of the Kamitic spiritual tradition rests on the Story of Osar (Asar, Ausar or Greek Osiris), where the hero of the story, Hru (Hrw, Heru or Horus) defeats his more learned uncle of war, Set (Set-an, Satan, Greek Typhon, the Ego-self) on the battlefield through intuitive (contemplative/meditative) means. The Story of Osar is a metaphor about the human experience. Yes, it is true that during the Council of Nicaea it was decided that the Story of Jesus was modeled after the Story of Osar to distort the Gnostic teachings. Once it is realize that the Christian story like the Story of Osar are not to be taken literal because they are based upon similar metaphorical truths. Life is all about manifesting the Will of God on earth.

As you can see, part of the reason so many people have converted to a Kamitic path is because they have have broken the mental chains and realized that the “real devil/enemy” is not some entity or person that exists outside of themselves. The “real devil/enemy” is our lower self and who or whatever we give our personal power to. Everything that our Set (Ego-self) tells us to fear for no reason is what we give power to.That’s right, your enemy only has as much power over you as you allow them to. Once you realize your true enemy is what you fear and what you give your power to. You will be FREE. Until that time, the answer to the question as to why does a small minority control the majority. It is because we mentally allow them to do so by buying into their reality and not investing in our own.

Now understand, when I say Ego-self, I am not talking about just being arrogant and braggadocios. I am talking about that part of our being that was hurt when we were younger and now uses that painful experience as a springboard to validate their treatment of others rather it is justified or not. I am talking about the part of our being that grew up believing that money is the root of all evil and that in order to make money you have to toil day and night, and compete and kill off others to survive. It is that old self, that old ego way of thinking that is afraid of some real spiritual work because it knows it has to make some changes. Yes! That part of our being that doesn’t want to change but would prefer. That we sit on our loins and just bellyache, criticize and complain – Yeah, that part of our being. That part of our being that is afraid to do what is right and just, even though it is not popular. That’s your Set, your true enemy.

So those who have truthfully become Kamitic realized that the reason we keep having the same problems and every solution they offer complicates the matter even more so, is because we are using the same thinking that created the problem symbolized as Set. We have to think outside of the box and that means doing something different. That different thing means to go deeper within our superconscious symbolized as KAMTA. This is where all of the great ideas and inventions come from. If you look at the detailed Maa Aankh cosmogram above you can see, there are no new ideas that are coming out of our subconscious because we are just reacting or surviving. This is the part of our being that functions on automatic and out of habit. The new ideas come from the deeper parts of our awareness – the superconscious. This is where we get intuitive ideas and also where our ancestors and spirit guides can give us wise counsel. You will also notice that this is where we get our dreams.

Spiritual culture as you can see is based upon this part of our being – our higher spirit or superconscious. It is not based upon making use of our higher spirit/self. This is the reason in the Story of Osar, Hru was finally able to defeat his uncle Set (that is do something new and improved) through the intercession of Osar. A thorough analysis of Japanese and Chinese history and culture will reveal that the reason they were able to bounce back on the world scene in a relatively short time. Is because both of these countries embraced their folk ways, which consists of delving and tapping into their higher self (the superconscious). This is the reason why all throughout Asia you will find stalls where people can get detailed I-Ching oracle readings and partake in other practices that will help people align themselves with their higher spirit.

Understand. The true Kamitic has realized this and now uses his or her life as a sounding board for perfecting their understanding of the Divine within them and all people.

So, while other men and women are being swayed by half-truths, lies, and the inconsistencies of men through the various airwaves. The true Kamitic, like other traditionalists and the traditionalists of old, are able to discern the truth and navigate through the malarkey. Like a wise general and strike the enemy where he is most vulnerable like all of the great leaders of antiquity have done before them. Don’t be fooled by popular Greek inspired movies that depict the oracles as being either young virgin women or some old hag. These are all distorted images used by Holly-weird to discourage people from embracing the traditional ways that will liberate our soul. The true oracles were bones, shells and yarrow sticks, etc., which were used even in the bible (both the New and Old Testament). It was a practice that the ancient Hebrews learned from….Guess? That’s right…the Kamitic people for all those claiming that we were ancient Hebrews. Our ancestors were not brought here from the East of Africa but the West of Africa, which is where the descendants of the Kamitic people fled to avoid Christian and Islamic onslaught.

That’s right. A true Kamitic or Kamite is revolutionary by nature in mind, body and spirit.

Summer is almost here and I hope to be travelling to some historic places where our ancestors once stood. A few years back I visited Jamestown and Williamsburg, VA where the Williamsburg Museum actually acknowledge how the first Africans on North American shores were from the Kongo Angolan region. For those of you who don’t know and are new to my blog, the Kongo people prior to be taken to the Americas were not forced into Christianity. Many of them willingly converted to the new faith before the start of the Maafa (the Africa Slave Trade/Holocaust). At the Williamsburg Muesuem they actually have a Kongo rosary from the late 1600s or early 1700s. The interesting thing about this rosary was that it didn’t have Jesus on it but instead Queen Nzinga. (I wish I could have taken a picture…I really tried and even tried sketching it but lost the drawing). It was a clear fact, that the Kongo people actually Africanized Christianity prior to their arrival. So this year my family reunion is in Atlanta, GA and I hope to visit Savannah, GA to see the First African Baptist Church.

First African Baptist Church 1775

First African Baptist Church was built in 1775. It claims to have been the first church originally founded in 1773, but it is contested by First Baptist of Virginia. My interests in this church is that this is where the Kongo floor diagram was found.

Kongo Cross First African Baptist in Savannah, GA

According to historians, the church was also on one of the stations on the Underground Railroad. Escapees were hidden under the church and the holes in the floor boards acted as vents. It appears that in typical African thinking to identify where the runaways were they marked the spot with an X.

Kongo Cross used for Ventilation during Underground Railroad

But, I was wondering if there were more signs of the Kongo influence that have gone unnoticed. Since the money to build the church was donated by slaves who were saving to purchase their freedom and everything was hand built by them also.

Court of the Kongo Kingdom and First African Baptist Sanctuary

A look at Fist African Baptist sanctuary is very similar to the Kongo court. Can you see the Kongo Upper Land and how it was converted using the archway?

First African Baptist Sanctuary

The lights above give an allusion that something glorious is taken place, while something within is sacred. This is where the idea appears to have originated from.

The queen is depicted in the position Funda Nkata, a very common pose among the noble class and religious authorities that indicates dignity or authority.

Notice how the enclosure begins or opens up at the bottom.

Kongo Yowa Cross

If you will recall, the Kongo Cross or Cosmogram begins from the Musoni moment as well.

Maa Aankh Cosmogram

Also, in the Kamitic / Kemetic traditions, Amun Ra is said to be the True Creator. Correction, not Creator but the Originator because the Kamitic thinkers liked to personify concepts in order to better understand them. Amun Ra as you can see is not a god nor is he The God. The God in the Kamitic / Kemetic language was called Nebertcher or “Lord of Everything”. Amun Ra we see simply means the Hidden Ra (Energy or Force). Now, a closer look behind the pulpit of First African Baptist and there are stain glass windows of their pastors.

First African Baptist Sanctuary stain glass windows

Notice how it forms a cross, but here’s where it stretches back to Kamit/Kemet (Ancient Egypt). Notice that there are nine marks or small discs encircling the image. Again, it should be noted that these were made around the late 1700s and early 1800s by ex-slaves and enslaved African Americans.

First African Baptist Sanctuary stain glass windows

This same number also appears in the patchwork ceiling, which resembles a quilt.

First African Baptist Sanctuary patchwork ceiling

The number nine is a sacred number in Kamit/Kemet because it refers to the Kamitc Tree of Life also called the Paut Neteru, which was introduced by Ra Un Nefer Amen in his Metu Neter series. The number nine is also sacred in various African traditions as it refers to the gestation period and thus the completion of a cycle. When you look at the ceiling you see that each segment is composed of nine smaller segments. It is another way of drawing the Kongo Cross using diamonds and squares. It basically is another illustration of an individual’s life term.

White Hedjet Crown

The fact that the ceiling is white gives another meaning, which reveals African cosmology at its best in North America. This is because remember, the color white in African thinking symbolizes the ancestral dead. Remember, this is a symbolic concept that early Africans as far back as Kamit / Kemet created, which is why Osar’s (Asar, Ausar, Osiris in Greek) is known as the Lord of the Dead (Ancestors). The name of Osar’s backbone or column is called djet, the symbol of strength. Even the root term of Osar’s crown ‘djet’ refers to inner strength. Are you starting to see the picture?

Djett: Osar’s Backbone

When we put together the color white with the concept of completed cycles on the ceiling. What we have here is the Kongo Cross turned upside down. The larger squares symbolize those who completed their cycle in the land of the living. That’s right. What we have above is an African view of Heaven. Where one would hope to die and see their deceased loved ones, but there’s a double meaning. This means the reason the pastors each have nine marks surrounding their image is because the Africans found another way of honoring those who lived a full term.

First African Baptist Stained Glass Window

The other meaning or I should say the most important interpretation is that the ancestors above are looking over (protecting) their descendants, thus the church itself has just become a Kongo Cross or Maa Aankh, and in case you’re wondering. Above the ceiling of course is where the Almighty God Nebertcher or Nzambi is imagined to be over it all, hence the Lord of Everything.

Of course, all of this is just my theory but, when you look at the floor of the sanctuary, which is red or reddish brown.

FAB Sanctuary

What comes to my mind is the land of the living or TASETT on the Maa Aankh.

TASETT – The Red Lands. Literally also known as the desert region of Lower Kamit or Egypt. Metaphorically, it symbolizes our Lower Self and the Land of the Living (Physical Realm).

It should be clear that our ancestors thought about God, their ancestors, and the heavenly realm on a daily basis as indicated by this quilt, which also resembles the patchwork ceiling.

Woman holding African American Quilt from 1700s

Now, another interesting fact that I have found about African First Baptist is that even their logo is a Kongo design. Of course, it is not known if the artist was aware of this or not (most likely not). Whatever the case, that is not the point.

FAB Logo

The point is that our ancestors really did leave instructions for us in stone.

Kongo Cross on Colonoware

We just need to take the time and investigate our culture, practices and traditions, instead of running behind everyone else’s.

Basic Kongo Cosmogram

No we do not need imitate, mimic, resurrect or reconstruct an exact replica of what our ancestors did because culture is not static, it is always evolving.

This is what the Kongo Yowa Cross (above) and Maa Aankh (below) indicate.

All we have to do, is search for God and we will find our ancestors there waiting to point us in our cultural direction.

Hope all is well. This is something that has really been on my mind since Malcolm X’s birthday is nearing and the rising disturbing actions and behaviors perpetrated by our youth in their desperate attempt to make money. I have also wanted to address this issue about because some people have been asking if Kamta is a New Age thing. So I have been letting this subject run around in my mind for a minute in order to address is appropriately.

Kamitic priest in leopard pelt

Because shamanism has become such a very popular term to throw around by anyone claiming to be spiritual and not religious or refusing to follow the order of organized religion. I have decided to write this post to clarify, specify and distinguish Kamta from the New Age shamanistic movements. Please understand that I have nothing against New Agers because everything has its purpose, but I want to make it clear that this is not a trend. I have to keep telling this story in order to raise consciousness, not because it is the trendy thing that is in fashion now, but because it is a Way of Life pertaining to my survival.

Portuguese ship

Kamta is a Spirit – led shamanic tradition based upon Kamitic (Ancient Egyptian) philosophy and Afrospiritual thought. When the Africans were enslaved and brought to North America, unlike those taken to the Caribbean and South America, they were unable to maintain and retain all of their religious beliefs because their formal introduction spiritual system had been disrupted or simply destroyed. This along with the fact that there were various ethnic groups with different cultures and spiritual beliefs also made it difficult for the spiritual systems transported to Protestant Christian North America from Africa to survive. Fortunately, prior to the advent of the Slave Trade, many of the people from the Kongo region had willingly converted to Roman Catholicism or were at least familiar with the Christian faith due to their encounter with Portuguese merchants and missionaries. Consequently, those Africans brought from the Kongo Angolan region were able to retain majority of their spiritual beliefs under the guise of Christianity. Although, they were not able to create or recreate a formal initiation system such as the ones that exist throughout the Afro diaspora, they were able to maintain an informal initiation system that follows what is commonly referred to as the Rule of the Sun.

Kongo Cross (also called the Dikenga or Yowa)

The Rule of the Sun is based upon African Cosmology particularly the Yowa, Dikenga also called the Congo or Kongo Cross. The general understanding of the Kongo Cross is that the human soul like the sun rises, zeniths, sets and is reborn again to create another dawn. Spiritually speaking, we rise and peak in our awareness, but when we experience problems, setbacks, calamity, dishonor, illness, etc. It is because we are spiritually dying or our sun/soul is setting in the West. The reason we spiritually die is because we have picked up impurities (egocentricities) from dwelling amongst the living in the physical world like selfishness, egotism, fear, etc.. So, spiritual death occurs in order to purify our soul. If we survive the problem, illness, fall from grace, etc. It is believed that we have traveled to the spiritual world and were reborn like the dawning sun. So along with this core belief, early African Americans believed that when someone experienced a spiritual death. It was because they were being Called to the spiritual world to obtain their spiritual gifts. Although good and evil existed in the Kongo mind, the whole battle between the good and evil was seen as a way in which one finds his or her true Self. In other words, it was seen as way to establish and maintain balance, so that an individual could learn to stand on the edge of both worlds.

Basic Kongo Cosmogram

Now the Calling in the African American community was similar to other shamanic societies, in the sense that those who were called at an early age displayed unusual birth signs such as being breeched, born with a caul over their head, having uncommon birthmarks and so on. But, the most common form of calling in the African American community was the fall from grace in which the individual after experiencing problems had some sort of epiphany or revelation. This is because all adversity was seen as an individual going through a dying phase, because as one elder told me “You have to go through something, in order to get something.” This something that the individual must go through is of course the adversity and hardship of the physical world. The something that the individual is going to get refers to their reward, their talent, purpose, destiny, etc. that will be obtained spiritually (or from the spiritual world). This is why it is not uncommon to hear of individuals within the African American community today being “Called” to the pulpit to be a preacher. In the olden days, the Calling was not just about being an evangelist. The Calling pertained to doing any type of ministry (God or Spirit-led) work in regards to helping people in the community such as being a seer, a healer, prayer warrior, and so on.

Robert Johnson the Blues Musician Who Supposedly Sold His Soul to Play the Guitar

Those familiar with African American folk beliefs will not understand the basis of Robert Johnson’s Crossroad Ritual and will now understand the reason what Johnson did was considered evil is because his blues music was not helping his community. It was only going to make him richer, which is why the man who allegedly teaches him was called the devil.

The Transformation from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X to El Hajj Malik Shabazz

The Calling is a form of initiation based upon the Kongo Cross and it refers to being initiated and inducted into the spiritual fold to help the community. Like most initiations, which end of something old and the beginning or start of something new. It was understood that anytime an individual experienced any sort of unusual hardship, setbacks, obstacles, problems, etc. the individual was being Called. This is the most accepted undocumented belief in the African American psyche. It is the reason those individuals that have undergone a complete transformation such as the legendary Malcolm X (and a host of others), are so cherished in the African American community. It is because African Americans like most people love a “comeback to grace” story and it is because the basis of our culture centers on the Rule of the Sun.

Because the Church became the most respected institution that white America during slavery (for the most part) would not meddle with. Many of the people that were Called were given regular titles within the institution such as deacon, evangelist, missionary, etc. but there were also those who were known as Father, Papa, Poppa, Uncle, Brother, Mother, Momma, Auntie and Sister “so – and – so”. Each of these individuals at some point in time assisted in the healing services that occur inside the church.

Contemporary Ring Shout

Like most shamanic traditions, African American religious service usually consists of a form of ritual called praise and worship, which consists of songs, music, dancing and trance called, filled with the Holy Ghost. Next, the preacher that gives the congregation a message from God and at times can also include being prayed upon for healing using blessed oil. The reason most people don’t think of it as being a shamanic trance induction service is because it is so norm and most people think that shamans are spooky witchdoctors running around with masks and bones in their nose chanting some unpronounceable language. A true shaman mediates between the spiritual world and physical world for his or her community. Everything that the shaman does is for the community because their spiritual development and advancement depends upon the people they serve. This is why typically those who were called in the African American community also did and continues to do something in regards to the church.

It is because of the Kongo Cross, anyone can participate in any form of African American spirituality (spiritual tradition, spiritual practices, folk practices, etc.) because it all centers on you going through something and surviving. It is simply put a spirituality that is based upon survival, which celebrates one’s success or victory over adversity. And, this is what makes African American spirituality a form of shamanism.

Disney’s Shadow Man of New Orleans

But, this form of spirituality has been steadily suppressed because in the early twentieth century, African Americans were routinely harassed and even imprisoned because of their religious beliefs. Today when people think of African religions or spirituality, it conjures up images of evil sorcerers. As a result, older African Americans familiar with this form of spirituality have often denied any association with it out of fear of being ostracized. Because African Americans were separated from the Motherland, in general unfamiliar with African cosmology and the old Kongo spiritual systems are nonexistent due to slavery and colonization. Slowly but surely, this system has continued to fade into extinction as the elders that followed and taught the system transition and are not able to pass their wisdom on to younger generations.

Emmett Till and Lil Wayne Controversy

Today, a great cultural tragedy is occurring on several fronts. From one perspective, because of the lack of a cultural spiritual tradition, youths unfamiliar with their own ancestral history are mocking and ridiculing their heritage. (i.e. the entertainer Lil Wayne). This is also due to the fact that many still suffer from Afrohagiophobia, which according to http://www.mamiwata.com/part2.html.

“A pathological fear and irrational intimidation of African spiritual and esoteric science, ancestral veneration, and its ritual and cultural expressions. The simplest spirit manifestations that were once understood in their cosmological context, now “spooked” the newly conditioned generations of African-Americans.”

On the other hand, many people are exploring, searching, investigating, embracing, imitating and mimicking spiritual systems that are foreign to their culture and wondering why these systems are not working and helping them to bring money, peace of mind, or harmony to their relationships. I am very well aware of the latter because I have put in my time researching and dabbling in various faiths and traditions myself. I have firsthand experience and know that if you do not belong to a particular cultural group, contrary to what anyone tells you. You are not going to get everything as the individual who is born into that culture. There is going to be a lot of information that is going to be lost in the cultural translation. A person born and raise Baptist, COGIC, Pentecostal, etc. and converts to Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, etc. is just not going to get everything because those spiritual systems are tailored to the cultures they serve. I have even witnessed and talked to people who were involved in various African and Afro-American religions and they have told me about the indifferences that exist there as well.

Kongo Cross on Colonoware

So, here comes Kamta to save me.

After doing all of this research and studying all of these philosophies years ago. After trying to make a dying relationship with a “spiritual person” work and trying to incorporate all of these metaphysical ideas, I became deathly ill. Meaning, I almost died twice. How I survived was by throwing out everything that didn’t work and relying upon what I knew that did. I always have to tell people my story so that they can understand what happens when you don’t accept your calling, because it is real.

Queen Nzingah

While I was undergoing my own rebirthing process that is when I began putting rhyme to reason and that’s how I learned about the Kongo people and our ancestral tradition, which can be traced back to the Ba-Ntu people who dwelled in Kamit/Kemet (Ancient Egypt). It was because the original Kongo systems for the most part is nonexistent that Kamit/Kemet became the inspiration behind this system and I discovered the Maa Aankh cosmogram. By the way, this is totally within the Bantu-Kongo thinking because Kongo traditions have survived throughout the diaspora by adapting and modifying existing philosophies to fit their purpose.

So, the battle between good and evil is not seen as an eternal conflict between God and the devil, but between man and woman’s higher and lower selves allegorized as the battle between the Upper and Lower Lands of Kamit. It is the same Kongo concepts of the physical world above and the spiritual world below where one has to travel and meet Osar in order to be reborn, so that he or she can be stand on the edge of both worlds.

Unify Your Kingdom Within

Now, the key differences between Kamta and other shamanistic systems is that everyone is called to do something because the Rule of the Sun is a way of introducing and inducting everyone into the cultural fold of communal service. For instance, I have a cousin who just celebrated being drug free for 15 years now. His ministry is helping other drug addicts. He had to undergo that little experience in order to fulfill his purpose in life. As I have mentioned before, since I have overcome and survived lupus. My responsibility has been to help others to do the same thing. This is one of my callings. There is a saying and it holds true for Kamta and it is, “Everyone is Called but only a few will answer.”

Maa Aankh Cosmology

The point that I am trying to make is that we have our own spiritual traditions, our own ancestors, our own spirits and guides that we can work with and are willing to assist us out of this bind that we find ourselves in. We do not have to make up, create or mimic another’s cultural tradition especially when they do not share our concerns and would not dowse us with water if we were on fire. Our ancestors left us with all sorts of guides and maps. We just have to use them. So, I am writing this post to help you all to understand that if you have been called what you need to do, because the only ones who can tell you about it have either transitioned into the spiritual realm or are refusing to talk about it because they are suffering from Afrohagiphobia. Hopefully, this post will help you to understand why certain systems aren’t working for you and what you need to do to find your Maa (Way).

On more than one occasion, I have to explain the importance of African cosmological thinking like the maa aankh. Here recently, I was asked what were my thoughts on the end of the world and here is where I saw the greatest benefits from African cosmologies.

As many of you know, for the past few years now, there has been talk about the world coming to an end. I don’t know about you but we have been here before. History will show that people felt this way 1799, 1899 and I remember people talking this way in 1999. Now the new thing is 2012, because of the Mayan calendar, which now some scholars are claiming is incorrect calculations. Still this doesn’t stop doomsday prophets from standing up and claiming that the end is near. Then to take advantage of the publics’ ignorance and fear, there have numerous doomsday shows, documentaries of people like Nostradamus, and movies like 2012 that have been airing. And, the one thing I noticed is that it seems like every time there is a major change people return to this Doomsday Thinking, and become increasingly more violent.

I thought about this and wondered why do people feel this way every time there is a change? It dawned on me that this is a part of Western cultural thinking – particular Christian influence. Traditional Christian beliefs hold before the Second Coming, that there will be all sorts of chaos, violence, wars, etc., which means that if none of this calamity existed. Christianity would not seem legit. To many traditional Christians the future doesn’t seem too bright, in fact, when my wife and I were trying to have children. I had one Christian individual say that they wouldn’t want to bring up a child in this world today.

What shocked me about this statement was that I couldn’t see how was life easier in the 1960s or any time prior, as it compared to today? Isn’t it interesting that more technological advances we seem to get, the more depressed, pessimistic, violent, unethical, etc. that people tend to become? At first, I couldn’t understand why I saw things as being different, then I remembered that Christian cosmology begins with order and degrades to chaos, such as with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Every since Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden, life has become progressively worst, which is why traditional Christian in an odd way, look forward to all of this calamity, because it signifies the coming of the Lord.

African cosmologies don’t see things this way because they all began by creating order out of chaos. Proof of this can be seen in all of the Kamitic creation theories, which start by saying that there was nothing that existed but a great chaotic void, until the self-created God caused the Maa to come into existence, which brought forth law and order. In the Yoruba traditions, a similar story is told of hos there was a great void that existed until the Great Almighty God, Olodumare gave his son Obatala a long silver chain to descend upon, so that he could empty from a snail shell he was carrying earth onto the waters, a five fingered guinea fowl to scatter the soil all over, and a palm nut in order for a tree to rise from the earth, so that he can descend into the newly created world, naming the place where he landed “Ile –Ife.”

It is this cosmological thinking that is the epitome of African thought. It is because of this theory and other African theories like this that made it possible for people to resist slavery. Basically the train of thought goes like this, where some see chaos, African thinkers see a way to create balance the way God does. This is why in this bleak world we live in, those influenced by traditional Africans thinking still have faith and hope because they live knowing that what is done today, will affect tomorrow. Rather than sitting around in fear of the future, wasting thousands of dollars building shelters, bunkers, etc. under the ground, in the ocean, or on the moon. African thinkers prefer to put their faith in something they know will work and that is the concepts and principles mapped out by their ancestors.

This is why I have faith that things will change because according to the maa aankh, changing times symbolized by the Ra Atum (the setting sun) does not necessarily signify the end, but it is the end, as we know it. To understand what I mean by this we have to understand that this change was brought upon us by the preceding moment in time Ra (midday sun), which symbolizes the rashness of youth, over zealousness, lack of maturity, lack of spiritual tradition, a lack wisdom, spiritual ignorance, impetuousness, and so on. The color of the Ra moment is red, which is the color of hot, hence caution! But, no one is trying to heed the words of the elders. So, people (in general) today are experimental mode and trying anything just because it feels good. Like the dog that never gets walked, once the chain is taken off runs dangerously free, or the coming of age child leaving their conservative parents’ home for college finding they have the freedom to do anything they want. This is the state that the society appears to be in, where there are no ethical or social restraints. This is what is leading to society’s downfall and ultimate demise; it is the experimental phase. It is sad that people don’t see the importance of spiritual traditions and don’t understand that for a greater majority. It is the lack of spiritual traditions that makes people seek out other ways of expression such as the use of drugs, etc.

But, like I said, I remain optimistic, because the end does not mean the end of everything, just the end, as we know it. In order to survive there are a lot of things that will have to go in order to make way for the new. This is they cycle of life, the maa aankh. This may appear to be an unfortunate thing only because our lower self does not like change, but it is very fortunate because out of change comes new things, new opportunities, etc. Some who are already seeing the benefits of the Amun Ra rebirthing period are already noting that some of the traditions that use to work are no longer valid in these changing times. So, don’t fear the change. In fact, don’t give power to the anxiety, fear and worries of the lower self. Instead embrace it and take advantage of it by discovering and anchoring yourself in what you know works versus what you think and believe.

I have said it before that Kamitic spirituality means a lot of things to a lot of people, hence there are a number of Kamitic traditions that exist. I have stated that the Kamitic people were like you and me with the same needs, concerns and worries. I have stated that there is a difference from Kamitic religion and Kamitic spirituality because the former is a practice that can be done once a week (like on Sunday), once a week, or once a month. Whereas the latter is a cultural way of life that is within our blood, this way of life I follow is what I refer to as Kamitic shamanism or Kamta, which is like more like a self-awakening or self-initiation. I have also stated that what made the Kamitic people of old so unique was how they triumphed over adversity, but for many of us it is still difficult to use the Kamitic principles to make miracles occur in our life, as our ancestors along the Nile and abroad had done. The reason I believe is because there is still some confusion about the essence of Kamitic spirituality based upon how it is approached, so I will try to clarify as best I can.

Part of the reason Kamitic spirituality seems so confusing is because most approach the subject from a Western perspective. Kamitic spirituality is based upon traditional African/Afrikan thinking and to understand it we have to see how these two perspectives, Western and African/Afrikan differ from each other.

In Western thinking, we have been taught to think of opposites or the duality in nature as opposing forces as the stronger conquering the other, hence Darwin’s theory of evolution. For instance, from a Western perspective in general man is physically stronger than woman, animals are stronger than plants, rock takes scissors (smile), etc. Life is viewed as opposing forces fighting to claim dominancy. In this great cosmic fight according to Western thinking the weaker force is usually viewed as being evil. So, in Western religion, this cosmic battle between “good” and “evil” has to exist as it appears in Western religion as God (and his angels) versus the devil (and his demons). An interesting sidebar that should be noted about Western spirituality is the fear that “evil” or the weaker force is derived from or revolts against the force of “good,” such as in the case between the Satan who rebels against God, and Lilith (Adam’s first wife according to Jewish lore) who rebelled against Adam and so on to classic movies like Frankenstein and the Terminator. We see in the Adam and Eve story (once Lilith was cast away) that even Eve had a bit of rebellion in her as she disobeyed and ate of the forbidden fruit, which led first couple of biblical lore being punished for their transgression. This is the underlining concept behind Western thinking that the meek will eventually overthrow those in power, or “inherit the earth.”

So our subconscious takes away from Western spirituality that evil -the meek and weaker force – has to be conquered, subdued, overthrown and overpowered by the force of good – the aggressive and stronger force. An analysis of Western history and civilization supports this theory, which explains the reason why whenever there is a conflict or anything that opposes Western culture. What comes to mind is that one must fight because they are doing “God’s work.” For those who are wondering where this notion of God came from simply read Greek, Roman and Norse mythology. There you will find that Westerners may have dropped the old names but a religious syncretism occurred between their old faiths (the weaker, the pagan faith, etc.) and the new emerging faith Christianity. In truth, most Christians have been worshiping the Greek, Roman and Norse gods for centuries without a clue.

African cosmology and other non-Western thinking is circular meaning it sees the duality in nature as interdependent parts of a whole. It sees that there would be no day without any night, fire without water, sun without moon, man without woman and so on. The idea that one is stronger than another from a holistic perspective is entertained with it depends upon the view point. Fire is stronger than water in its element such as in the desert, but on the flip side, water is stronger than fire such as in the ocean. In other words, a man may appear to be stronger than a woman physically especially when it comes to performing physically demanding labor, but a woman has her own unique strengths that most men could not tolerate such as the pain of childbirth, etc. It was this understanding that made it possible for women to be treated somewhat as equals in many non-Western societies prior to their encounter with Westerners. No, women did not get the full share of rights but they got more rights than Western women who because of Lilith and later Eve were seen as the scapegoats for humanity’s decline, which is the source of the Original Sin. Again, no one may have stated this outright at the pulpit or lecture halls, but this is how the subconscious, which takes everything it hears and sees literally, interpreted the story. Another interesting tidbit, it should be noted that in the history of humanity you have never heard of non-Westerners fighting in the name of god or doing God’s work, because The Supreme Being is everywhere and in everything even one’s enemy. The difference between people from the ancient African perspective is that people have their own minds, however right or wrong it may be, which we will see in the great conflict between Osar and Set.

Returning to the subject at hand, African cosmology and other non-Westerners (Native Americans, Chinese, Pacific Islanders, etc.) viewed life as being composed of complimentary parts, so in the case of good and evil. They were looked upon as being two different sides of the same coin. The Chinese called these polar forces yang and yin, but notice that yin is not fully yin and yang is not fully yang. They both have an eye (the circle within) symbolizing that there is a little yin in yang and a little yang in yin, meaning one cannot be fully yang or yin, because too much or too little of anything is disastrous for all.

The Kamitic people (Ancient Egyptians) understood this concept as well, which is why they said that Osar, the older (Osiris by the Greek), and Set, the younger, were both brothers from the same cosmic loins. Osar’s kingdom was usurped by his younger brother symbolizing that nothing good last forever. When Set is defeated by Osar’s heir in battle, it is hinted that evil cannot not be totally destroyed, which is why Oset (Isis) could not kill Set per Hru’s (Horus by the Greek) request. It wasn’t until they had the great tribunal and the deceased Osar spoke on Hru’s behalf that the Great War between Osar and Set was settled. Most people interpret the story from a Western perspective believing that Hru defeated Set and became the ruler of the land, while Osar became the ruler of the underworld. In truth, Hru as signified by the red and white crown (shown above) is the mediator between both lands because both Osar and Set symbolize the two extremes. In other words, Hru is the coin standing on its side. Hru is on the edge of both lands. He has a foot on one side and the other foot in the other land. The idea of Hru symbolized as a hawk comes to mind indicating that Hru is on the fence or is perched on the wall between the two lands. From a metaphysical perspective Hru symbolizes that we can’t be too spiritual – as Osar, nor can we be too physical/mundane – as Set, we need both because we are physical living beings in a spiritual world and vice-versa, which is the whole idea behind African shamanism and the divine king concept. In other words, we are supposed to be representatives, vessels, for the Supreme Being.

The whole God versus the devil theme was borrowed from the Osar versus Set conflict. The problem is that the early Jewish and Christian writers didn’t get the full story, which is why the God versus the devil theme doesn’t exist in Kamitic thinking. Proof of this can be seen in the fact that Set was venerated alongside the other so-called gods of Kamit. The reason is because Osar is not The God. How can Supreme Being and the Devil be the same? This concept makes absolutely no sense, which is why The God or the Supreme Being is called in Kamit, Nebertcher – The Lord of Everything. This is what the early Judeo-Christian writers missed. Nebertcher – The Supreme Being according to African thinking is so abstract and vast. Nebertcher cannot be defined and is called the Great Father-Mother Supreme because It is the androgynous source of Everything. Nebertcher is so great that It cannot even be conceived in the human mind because the Supreme Being is in everything and everywhere. The idea that one of the Supreme Being’s subjects is rebelling or revolts against Nebertcher is ludicrous in the mind of the African because that is like saying a droplet of water is equal and greater than the ocean. This is nonsense because the two don’t compare.

So that we are clear, if you think of Osar and Set as being opposing teams, then the Supreme Being would be the stadium that they played inside. That’s how great Nebertcher is and this is the reason throughout Kamitic literature there is little mention of Nebertcher. As you can see, the battle between good and evil is actually our physical way or making sense of an immaterial reality. The battle of good versus evil is the struggle to control (not annihilate) the lower parts of our spirit. It is not about conquest but dealing with opposition. Evil exists in the minds of non-Westerners because if you never had opposition you would not be strong. Muscles don’t come from being in a relaxed state. We get muscles from contracting and tension, but too much tension and the body will burn up like the desert, the Red Lands of Kamit or TASETT (based upon the African cosmology called the maa aankh). There has to be moderation, not too much and not too little and this is what Hru symbolizes in Kamitic/Kemetic and Kush/Nubian spirituality, but that’s another story.

Nebertcher – the Supreme Being is not bothered by the whole good versus evil concept because it is beneath Nebertcher. While Osar and Set may care about who wins the battle between them, Nebertcher watching the entire battle doesn’t care because in the end, It still wins because it is all about moderation, balance or maa (Divine truth). This is what the Kamitic people realized and this is the reason Hru has to have equal footing in both worlds. Hru (man and woman) has to learn how to be in the world but not of the world. When you understand this, this is when the true adventure begins.

Nebertcher is beyond great, which is why in some of the traditional African societies like the Old Kongo, the Supreme Being or Nzambi is believed to be so far removed from the affairs of human beings, that the Supreme Being is not even prayed to for anything, yet is always on the African’s mind. This is why for the longest time missionaries (and Muslims) had a time trying to convince Africans to go to church. Even after finally coaxing some Africans to go to church, the African mind still found the concept difficult to completely accept and referred to the Christian God as being the God inside the Church who is different from the Supreme Being. In the minds of the African, no building can confine the greatness of the Supreme Being. It should now become clear why our ancestors in North America “stole away” to find God in the deep fields and why our ancestors along the Nile referred to the southern region as KAMTA – The Black Lands, because it is in the invisible realm, that one discovers the mystery of the Supreme Being within, shown below.

No one bothered the Supreme Being because The Great Lord was too great. The only time one prayed to or rather bothered Nebertcher was as a last resort and when nothing else works and even then to arouse the Great One to even act one has to do something very offensive. Women in the Kongo were said to have exposed their breast to provoke the Supreme Being into acting. Funny thing, I knew that this had to be a cultural practice passed along the bloodlines because when I was younger and couldn’t escape the mental anguish I found myself in due to religious confusion. I cussed out God and even flipped Him off a number of times so that when I was struck down by lightning I could tell God how cruel and unjust he made life on earth. It wasn’t until I got older I learned that this was classic African thinking and that my anger and disgust was actually directed to the Supreme Being. I would never do this to Osar for fear of retaliation.

The idea of provoking the Supreme Being would appear unspeakable to a Western thinker for one because they are afraid of death and don’t see it as being necessary for life. To a non-Western thinker on the other hand, offending the Supreme Being makes perfect sense because it is based upon the understanding that man and woman need the Supreme Being, but guess what. The Supreme Being also needs man and woman because without us, “Thou will” will not be done, which again illustrates the whole interconnectedness and interdependency between the visible and invisible.

There we have it, in order to truly make sense of Kamitic spirituality one has to see the universe as our ancestors saw it as ridiculous as it may seem at times, because their thinking was circular and not linear. It is what psychologist call right-brain thinking, which is full of myths, allegories, stories, symbols, etc. When people stop trying to make Kamitic spirituality conform to their limited linear beliefs, instead open up to its beliefs, that’s when they will begin to see clearly and benefit from Kamitic spirituality. You will know when this change will occur because you will cease giving definitions about the netcharu and instead see their interconnectedness with everything in the universe. For instance, you won’t say that Osar represents plants, agriculture, is associated with the moon, etc. You will instead see Osar as the one that shakes the ground, speaks to you through plants because he is connected to everything. When the moon is shining it will remind you of Osar’s presence and all of our great ancestors who twinkle in the night sky. Falling stars are seen as Osar granting an ancestors return to the land of the living, and so on and so on.

As you can see the first approach sounds very linear, rigid, static, and cold as if giving a definition. The latter draws you in because it sound circular, flexible, mystical and powerful. It is a living story, which explains the reason why there are so many versions of the same story. It is because it is something the Spirit can play with. Only Western thinkers are concerned with for instance, the Story of Osar being logical, historically accurate, if the characters in the story are incestuous, etc. African and other non-Western thinkers look at the story as to how it correlates with life. This is the reason why they can find their guardian spirits (loas, orishas, netcharu, etc.) in any tradition and anywhere, because they are only concerned about the Story working and revealing to them TRUTH about their divinity. By this I mean they are looking fora story to help convince them that they can do anything that is humanly possible, because they were made in the image of God. This is what the Kamitic mindset was all about. For more insight, check out Prayer to the Black Christ.